Led by a career-high five blocks from Alperen Sengun and three by fellow second-year center Usman Garuba, the Houston Rockets collected 19 as a group in Wednesday’s 101-92 win (box score) at Dallas. That team total came in one shy of a franchise record, set in the 1984-85 rookie season of legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon.
Garuba scored a career-high 12 points in 22 minutes on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 on 3-pointers. The Rockets were plus-16 with Garuba on the court, best of any player on the floor, and he added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and strong defense throughout. As a testament to the latter, head coach Stephen Silas opted to finish the game with Garuba, rather than Sengun, on the court.
